If the T25 was slightly loose and the T30 was too big I would venture to guess that it is a T27. Not sure though but am making a SWAG. Loaned my truck to a buddy or I would go check.

 

These drain plugs are actually pretty goof proof - And any spot where it can not possibly interfere with the internals of the tranny is a good spot.
Go from small bits to large, can't go wrong.
Just set your pan on the ground so its oriented the same as when it will be bolted up, you'll see at least 3 good looking spots, including the one I chose.
I decided ground clearance was not a factor when parts of the exhaust in the front, and the differential in the rear, were lower than the plug.
As you say though, if this is just a bi-yearly task, really no big deal either way.

My fluid looked very nice, a light blood red.
But I had changed it just months before that, and months before that, due to problems and troubleshooting - Which is the main reason I finally installed the plug, my last pan drop turned into a slop fest when my gf shrieked out my name, literally when I had the last bolt just out and the pan more or less balancing on one hand.
That caused me to almost ****, the fluid started shifting towards where my face was and I thought, no way is that going to happen, so I dropped the other corner down quickly, and missed the slop pan I had set up, dumped at least a quart on the ground before I could correct the situation.

 

How often should you change the fuild/filter? 10k 20k?

 

Good stuff. The jack and wood are a good idea for you guys doing this on the ground.

torx 27 is the correct size.

Change your filter and fluid every 30k.

BTW the info printed on that filter kit is incorrect, that pan gasket will not fit the 42 or 44 units.

 

Xray99 -- This is a repeat of question on your article, but why did you change the pressure sensor and selonid? Was there a problem, time change or upgrade?

Thanks in advance

 

Thanks, glad you approve . While the procedure is straight forward for the filter change, I was still leary on doing it since I have always been scared of the transmission for some reason. I usually do my work in the driveway / garage but I didn't want to risk having ATF all over the floor so this was my first time in the grass. The jack and wood was the best thing I could come up with although bringing that jack through the grass was a pain in my **** lol. I put a tiny bit of pressure on the pan to hold it there and took the remaining already loosened bolts out, then had my brother slowly drop the jack down while I had two hands on the pan balancing its weight on the jack. Worked like a charm and didn't spill a drop out of the pan. The block and wood also helped when I was installing the pan to hold the pan in the general position to line up the gasket and holes on the trans. That part wasn't necessary since the pan weighs nothing empty, but it did help lineing things up since I could work with two hands. I now know that I need to invest in a Torx 27 bit in two years... I think I can handle that. Thanks again MonteC, glad you are back.

 

I was wrong, the correct torx bit is a 25, i just check on a valvebody outback and the 27 will not fit.

 

Some people say 15K, 25K, 30K.
I go 30K or transmission re-build, whichever comes first.

 

lol!!

 

14yrs old and 2 trannys done one more going out the door.